Authentic Southeast Asian Cuisine Brought to South Arlington

A Thai Twist

By
Kerry Pipes

The authenticity of the Thai cuisine at Arlington’s Thai
Texas restaurant is as real as it gets. Though the three-year-old operation was
launched by Kevin Jones and his wife Asama, affectionately known as “Sam,” the
heart and soul of the food served here is all the domain of Sam’s mom, a
70-year-old Thai native who has been cooking since she was 15 years old. “Mama
Thai” doesn’t speak much English but her culinary skills have the restaurant
serving up some of the tastiest Thai food in the area.

We sat down recently with Kevin and Sam and listened as
the story of their lives and restaurant unfolded. “Sam and I both had
previously been married. When we came together seven years ago we blended our
two families and the uniqueness of our two cultures,” says Kevin, who was in
retail management and has a 17-year-old son. Sam first came to America from
Thailand when she was a teenager in the 1990s. She eventually moved to the
North Texas area and earned an accounting degree from UTA. She and Kevin
married about seven years ago. When Sam’s mother and father decided to move to
America a few years later, it got them all thinking about opening a Thai
restaurant that would give Sam’s mom a place to work and share her authentic
Thai cooking skills with the public. Her secret recipes and sauces have been
turning heads in Arlington and surrounding areas ever since.

“This is really Sam’s and Mama Thai’s place,” says Kevin.
“I built the interior and did all the remodeling and I still go and retrieve
food and supplies for the daily cooking.” He’s also busy with all three kids
and their activities and overseeing the building of a new home. Sam is at the
restaurant every day, greeting and visiting with customers and managing the
front of the house, including overseeing about a half dozen employees, while
Mama Thai directs everything in the kitchen.

Demand for their food has even led to the creation of a
bustling delivery service. Kevin had just picked up a new delivery vehicle when
we met. “These days probably 45 percent of our business is delivery,” he says.

Food & Atmosphere

Kevin’s interior remodel of a former sake place has more
than a touch of Thailand in it. He built booths with thatched “roofs” on them.
He says it reflects what a traveler might find working their way through the
interior of Thailand. There’s even a display mimicking a “Thai river market”
trading marketplace with the goods displayed in tiny boats (you just have to
see this for yourself). Full-size Texas and Thailand flags hanging next to each
other from the ceiling greet you when you walk in the door. Little Thai
tapestries adorn the walls and tables and chairs fill the center of the
restaurant’s space. They’ve done a great job creating an ambiance reflective of
Thailand. But it’s the food you come for here – and it’s the real payoff.

You’ll find many of the Thai cuisine standards at Thai
Texas but it's the way they prepare them and a few other twists that make the
menu unique. After all, have you ever heard of Thai Chili Poppers? These shrimp
and cream cheese treats are a fun way to get started.

They also have what they call Crispy Pad Thai, and Khao
Soi, a soup with chicken, egg noodles, white, green and red onions.

There are several curry offerings to be found along with
a mix of stir fry standards, stir fry noodle favorites and soups. Everything is
made to order and Kevin says you can choose from “1 to 5 spiciness” levels for
Americans or “6 to 10 spiciness” for real authentic Thai levels. As Kevin says,
“We serve authentic Thai that’s as close to Thailand as you can get without
going there.”

On our visit, we got to sample a number of dishes, just
like you would be treated in Thailand, says Sam. There was the yummy and unique
peanut dressing that enhanced the little salad that began the smorgasbord. Then
there was Pad Thai, Massaman Curry, Crispy Duck Basil, and Pineapple Fried Rice
with chicken, pineapple, raisins, roasted cashew nuts, egg, tomato and onion.
The dessert treat was Sticky Rice with Mango and a tall glass of Thai Iced Tea
washed it all down. Everything was fresh and hot, and you can even hear them
cooking your order while you wait.

Thai Texas is located at 5736 SW Green Oaks Blvd in
Arlington. They are open for lunch and dinner but closed on Mondays. Hours are
Tuesday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. and for dinner from 4:30
until 9:00 p.m. Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. and Sunday from Noon
until 9:00 p.m. Visit them online at www.thaitexas.info or call 817-870-6057.

A Visit with Kevin and Sam

Kevin and “Sam” Jones met on Match.com, seriously. The
two were each previously married and have blended their two families to create
a happy marriage and a successful family business. Their Thai Texas restaurant
sits just off I-20 in South Arlington. The three-year-old operation has been
serving and delivering hot and spicy (or not so spicy, if you prefer) Thai food
to a growing fan base. The couple is even building a new home about 5 minutes
away from their restaurant in South Arlington.

We had a chance to visit with
Kevin and Sam recently to find out more about their “labor of love” and about
their own personal interests and lives. Here’s what they told us.

What makes your food/menu unique?

Kevin: We do everything fresh and from scratch, on every order.
I personally go at least twice a week and purchase all of the ingredients. We
never sacrifice quality for quantity. If we’re crowded, it may take a little
longer to get your food but you can be sure it will be made just the way you
ordered it.

Any new menu items on the way?

Kevin: We have been considering a Thai Beef Stew but we might
wait for colder winter months to introduce it.

What is the most popular or most requested dish you make?

Sam: All of our curry dishes are popular. The Drunken Noodle,
Pad Thai and Volcano Chicken are ordered often.

How do you want customers to remember their experience?

Kevin: We have tried to create a family atmosphere. We are a
family business and we try to treat our customers like family. We greet them by
name and Sam often knows exactly what they like to order.